Theme: CONNECTED

Bring together, join together, link. These are often the first terms that come to mind when you hear the word "CONNECTED." TEDxValenciaHighSchool will explore what it means to be CONNECTED in a series of talks by high school and middle school students encouraging everyone to reflect and connect!

500 Bradford Avenue
Placentia, California, 92870
United States

Angie Carmona

Student

I am 17yrs old and currently a senior at Valencia. I have been very involved with activities such as Pinx club, El Tigre, Link Crew, as well as just volunteering my time to help anyone around school that would like my help. Not only do I love to help around at school but I am involved with my church activities as well as helping out at home with our family daycare. I strive to help others and volunteer my time whenever possible. Valencia has become my home away from home. I am proud to be a tiger and can not wait to graduate with my senior class this June 2016. Once a tiger always a tiger will continue to be my motto even well after graduation.

Ariel Nadratowski

Student

Ariel Nadratowski likes to simply consider herself an artist. But more specifically, she especially loves playing music. She is currently a member of her school's band, and is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program. Although time is often hard to come by, she is determined to make time for both music and school. She has been playing flute for around seven years, and piccolo for about four. When asked which is her favorite, she usually responds that she doesn't play favorites, but she generally does feel more comfortable on piccolo. Outside of music and school, Ariel likes to explore the outdoors and appreciate nature, as well as engage in other creative activities. In the future, she aspires to study music in college and make music a part of her daily life.

Jacob Leiken

Student

Jacob Leiken is a Senior enrolled in the International Baccalaureate and Val Tech programs at Valencia High School in Placentia, California. He founded a programming club on campus in which he teaches other students advanced topics in computer science. He competes on the school's U.S. Academic Decathlon team and individually in many online programming competitions. Upon graduation, Jacob plans on attending college and majoring in Computer Science or a related subject. He is an avid science-fiction enthusiast and enjoys making electronics prototypes.

Lauren Young

Student

Lauren Young is a senior in the IB Program at Valencia High School. She hones her leadership skills as founder/president of Step Up, a peer tutoring group, and as president of Corazon De Vida, a student club that raises money and organizes monthly trips to orphanages in Tijuana, Mexico. Lauren embraces cultural and social diversity as a dancer with the TAAL Indian Dance Club, treasurer for Art for Heart, a disadvantaged children support group, and publicist for the Gender Equality club. Lauren’s intended college major is business and she has an impressive start on developing her experience in this career path. Currently Lauren holds the position of Jr. Social Media Strategist for the Young Post, a global youth journalism organization. Lauren hopes to attend the University of Southern California in fall of 2016. Lauren turns to her daily yoga practice to find balance in her rigorous academic and extracurricular activities with stillness and inner peace.

Michaela Artavia-High

Student

Michaela Artavia-High is in her junior year at Valencia High School. She is in the International Baccalaureate class of 2017, and the Valencia Tech Class of 2017. Artavia-High is an avid student of languages, is involved in her city’s sister city program, loves traveling, and hopes to pursue a degree in Linguistics. She was introduced to puzzles at an early age and has continued to develop this talent ever since. Her philosophy on puzzles and life have been a source of strength through her struggle with OCD, and she is now a strong advocate for mental health.

Rojan Rijal

Student

My name is Rojan Rijal and I am a International Baccalaureate student and also an Academic Decathlete at my high school. Computer has become a great passion of mine since the time I was introduced to it. From learning simple HTML markups to game development I have always loved to see how programming can affect our daily life. In my free time after finishing homework and studying I love to do computer programming as well as security research in websites. I have helped many companies like Edmodo, AddThis and Square to secure their websites from any kind of intrusion. Through game developments I have been able to learn a lot of valuable lessons which I believe can help me in future.

Sameet Inamdar

Student

Sameet Inamdar is a current junior at Valencia High School enrolled in the International Baccalaureate and Val Tech programs. He is an enthusiast of watching the sunset, playing basketball, and eating ice cream. Sameet has learned the essentials of business entrepreneurship and leadership through his encounters at the National Student Leadership Conference at Yale University. Through 3 years of rigorous training, Sameet has received his black belt at Taekwondo and plans to one day continue his training. Since the 6th grade, he has always had a fascination with the topic of black holes. The idea that no matter or energy can escape a gravitational field is staggering even in this era of advanced technology! Yet he wondered if human emotions work analogous to black holes.

Tobi Park

Student Kraemer MS

Tobi Park is a 7th grader at Kraemer Middle School, a synchronized swimmer, an avid writer, and a voracious reader. She enjoys a wide variety of activities such as skiing, knitting, and doodling. Ultimately, she considers herself to be a CREATIVE: a person who produces work with originality in expression or imagination. She also has a passion for philanthropy, which was sparked by a visit to an impoverished area in Guatemala, where she volunteered at a special needs orphanage. She unleashes her philanthropic enthusiasm through NCL (National Charity League). Although she is the typical Kraemer student, from the wonderful 3 year relationship with the George Keys School kids, she has learned that life experiences and human interactions are far more important thanmere grades and achievements. Tobi hopes to bring to her community a strong sense of justice and compassion, and have some fun along the way..... Life is too short to do it any other way!

Yasmine Abo-Shadi

Student

Yasmine Abo-Shadi is a Muslim Egyptian-American high school senior. Among public speaking, she enjoys photography, martial arts, exploring different cultures, socializing, and helping others. She describes her formative journey that led her to make a commitment to the hijab and explains why she decided to put it on. Yasmine plans on studying Business (Marketing) at a 4-year university located in Orange County, California after she graduates from high school in June.

Yuritzi Mendoza

Student - Valadez MS Academy

Yuritzi is from Anaheim, loves reading, and is a proud ASB student. She is one of four sisters living in a loud, loving, sarcastic household of three generations of females.